#3 in the Artisan series, this is a big porter infused with Sanctuary Chai.
Pours a super thick brown color that's pretty close to black. A nice sized white head forms at the pour, but fades out. This stuff is THICK, though. In fact, it doesn't seem to be very cool, even straight out of the fridge. It's just dense and creamy.
The flavor profile is pretty unique. Big chai on the nose starts off like sweet vanilla on the very front of the palate. The roasty notes from the porter follow up...then the chai hits. Ginger, cardamom, and black tea are especially potent and leave a lingering tingle. One sip you might think the spice is too much and the next you'll swear it's a strong milk stout with just a hint of chai. It keeps you on your toes. I can imagine chai lovers really enjoying this, however I can imagine that if you aren't a big chai fan you might not like it, too. It has big chai throughout.
I really enjoy chai, and I like their base stouts, so this definitely speaks to me. I'm thinking of buying more and seeing where it goes after a little time. (1,068 characters)